Thar Vilas Jaisalmer

... to your bum but it soon goes numb and you forget about it. We were so happy we had opted for a non tourist safari as we didn't see another tourist the whole time and it was so quiet and peaceful. We stopped for lunch after about 3 hours and chilled out in the shade as it was so hot, about 35oC but there is no escape from the heat when you are riding the camels so it gets really hot. After lunch we all played cards and had a relax before ...

... on our first day there. <br><br>We were not there to see the fort though we were there to see the desert by camel safari... and so we did, much to the internal yelling of agony of my **** cheeks we did a 1.5 day safari, I think we must have spent up to 6 hours or more on the camels and I tell you I was doing the best John Wayne impression in the west afterwards, getting my backpack on the and climbing stairs the next day was quite a mission to say the least. <br><br>We ...

... 300 and then the designers sell them on for about $8400-$9000 How crazy and unfair is that? Talk about exploitation. <br><br>Once we had looked around the co-operative we set off for a 7 hour drive to Jaisalmer. It was a beautiful drive through the desert, driving for miles and seeing only camels, cows and the odd deer. We also saw several small housing areas, with 3 or 4 gers but nothing else around for miles. This kind of ...

... like. Here we see camels grazing along the road, or gracefully walking thru the fields. There are fewer villages along the road and the main industry seems to be raising goats and stone quarries. We stop for a moment to take a picture of some wild gazelles that are grazing alongside the road, and then we move on. Other than the Gazelles there is very little of interest along the road and we doze off and on as Rampal plows forward One thing ...

You know, I think the full day I spent in Jaisalmer was really the first time I was alone and I liked it. While on this trip I was telling someone that even though I am traveling alone I have yet to be alone because I keep meeting different people to spend time with. To which they said "Good people attract/find other good people." I really like that saying and it has been turning out to be very true on this trip. One great thing about traveling alone is you ...

... as my mother's face when six Indian ladies in their forties come to stay" I thought. "We could get on a train and ride round and round Manchester for twenty four hours reliving the good old days!" I chirped in with. They all just smiled and nodded politely which i took as a definitely maybe on the train idea. The same lady then kept saying "English address" even after she had it and pointing at my India book. "Oh!" Said I, quick as a shot after ten ...

... and then breakfast with the rest of the group. This morning (Saturday) we traveled again on camel, pausing for a short break mid-morning just to stretch our legs, and then we went on to the lunch place. We got there a little ahead of schedule because our guides decided to trot. Galloping scared the heck out of me - I felt like I was going to fall off! But we had lunch, then said goodbye to our camels and our guides and got back ...

... Book.I went with Curtis an Austrian guy I had met at the hotel-he's a little intense and tightly wound.Ever been at dinner with somebody where you do all the talking-it can be extremely tiring and lucky enough I didnt run out of subjects-but was tired or maybe it was the 2nd litre of Kingfisher.Now the reverse is the case with Stephanie-my Leo who is also staying at the hotel.She is a vibrant spirit who seeks out things and adventures ...

... problemo, we can cope with that okay. The train pulls into the platform and we are off - 12 foreigners with hiking boots, hats, sunglasses, cargo pants, water bottles, packets of chips and back packs, side packs an plastic bags. But it's not two carriages back, we've been a little mislead and we are forced to keep running back and back - past the chai-wallah, past the beggars, past the tearful farewell scenes, past the holy men asleep on the floor...Kush leads the group and we ...

... it was pretty relaxing. We went to the internet shop and looked for somewhere to stay in Goa, Durk offered us tea but I said I had an upset stomach so didnt want to drink it. (I dont like chai but didnt want to appear rude ) Sat on the palace steps for a bit and enjoyed the sun reading and people watching. OOO Remembered something from yesterday. When we were at Saffron I went to get batteries for my camera, as the shop didnt have any one of the guys went to get some for me ...